Vingegaard Eyes Giro d’Italia and One-Day Classics, Declares “Cycling Also Exists Outside of the Tour de France”
Table of Contents
A bid for the Giro d’Italia could be on the horizon for Jonas Vingegaard as early as next season, as the Danish cycling star broadens his ambitions beyond the Tour de France and explores a more diverse racing calendar. Vingegaard, fresh off a victorious Vuelta a España, emphasized that the sport extends far beyond the confines of July’s premier event.
Beyond the Yellow Jersey: A Grand Tour Quest
The two-time Tour de France champion revealed his desire to complete the set of all three Grand Tours – the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia, and Vuelta a España – a feat achieved by only a handful of riders in cycling history. “It would be great, obviously; it’s a dream to win all three Grand Tours, for all riders, I think,” Vingegaard stated. “So it’s something very important for me.” While acknowledging the Tour de France’s central role in his future plans, he expressed openness to incorporating the Giro as soon as next year.
However, concrete plans remain fluid. “We haven’t yet established the plan with the team. I have my idea, my desires. The Tour de France is so big that it will necessarily be part of this plan, and we’ll see if the Giro can also be part of it,” he explained.
Assessing a Successful, Yet Imperfect, Season
Despite missing out on a third consecutive Tour de France victory, Vingegaard deemed his 2024 season a success, highlighted by his triumph in the Vuelta a España. He also secured wins at the Volta ao Algarve and a second-place finish at the Critérium du Dauphiné. A crash and subsequent concussion at Paris-Nice did disrupt his spring campaign, however.
“It’s a pretty good year. Not the best I’ve had, obviously, I think my 2023 season was better,” Vingegaard conceded. “But finishing second in the Tour de France and winning the Vuelta, it’s not a bad season.” He self-assessed his performance as a “7 out of 10, something like that, maybe even 8,” acknowledging that his primary goal of winning the Tour remained unfulfilled.
Recovering from Injury and Reaching Peak Form
Vingegaard addressed his recovery from a career-threatening crash at the Itzulia Basque Country in 2024, stating he is now producing the same power output he had before the incident. However, he recognizes the need to regain his previous competitive edge against rivals like Tadej Pogačar. “In a way, I lost a year and a half of progression, where I focused on getting back to the level I was at before,” he said. “I just have to hope [I can catch up]… Because before my crash, I was on a really upward curve, I was progressing really fast, so I hope I’m back on that progression curve.”
A Shift Towards One-Day Classics?
Traditionally focused on stage races, Vingegaard indicated a growing interest in participating in more one-day classics. He specifically mentioned races like Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the Road World Championships as potential targets. “Cycling isn’t just about stage races. There are also big one-day races, even for climbers like me,” he noted.
This ambition represents a shift in strategy, particularly when contrasted with his rival Pogačar, who has raced 24 one-day events in the past two seasons, winning an impressive 14. Vingegaard, in the same period, has only participated in two: Donostia San Sebastián Klasikoa and the Road European Championships.
However, Vingegaard acknowledged the logistical challenges of balancing a Grand Tour schedule with the demands of one-day races. “If I want to do the Vuelta, it’s difficult to go to the World Championships. It’s a compromise; if I want to do these races, I can’t do some others.”
Ultimately, Vingegaard’s statements signal a broadening of horizons for one of cycling’s brightest stars, a willingness to explore new challenges, and a firm belief that the sport’s appeal extends far beyond the three weeks of the Tour de France.
Keep reading
- Ruben Van Gucht Loses Cycling Battle to Karl Vannieuwkerke (newsy-today.com)
